Estonia: Foreign Affairs Committee visit to Gulf countries focuses on parliamentary relations and business diplomacy

NordenBladet — The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) is on a visit to Gulf countries. In the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, their focus is on developing of parliamentary relations and business diplomacy. In Dubai, the delegation will also visit the EXPO 2020 site.

Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Enn Eesmaa said that the aim of the visit was developing of parliamentary relations, which was a part of the larger picture of bilateral relations. “With our visit, we wish to support Estonian business diplomacy and highlight addressing of regional topics through the prism of membership of the UN Security Council,” Eesmaa added.

Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson pointed out that the first Estonian embassy in Gulf countries would soon be officially opened in Abu Dhabi, and in Dubai, preparations were on the way for the EXPO world fair, where Estonia would also participate. “At the meetings, we wish to gain an insight into how the situation in the Gulf region is seen from the viewpoint of the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait,” Mihkelson said. In his opinion, bilateral relations with Kuwait have become very active after the visit of President Kersti Kaljulaid, and the visit of the parliamentary delegation will contribute to deepening of relations.

Other members of the Estonian delegation are members of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu Raimond Kaljulaid, Mihhail Lotman and Anti Poolamets.

On Sunday, the delegation will be in Abu Dhabi and meet with the Speaker of the Federal National Council of the UAE Saqr Ghubash and members of the Federal National Council. They will also have meetings with Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, Assistant Minister for Political Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Minister of Tolerance Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan.

On Monday, the Estonian delegation will get an overview of the preparations for EXPO world fair in Dubai. They will have meetings with Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Managing Director for the Dubai World Expo 2020, and with the representatives of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Dubai Future Foundation. The delegation will also visit the EXPO site.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the visit will continue in Kuwait, where the Estonian delegation will meet with Chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee of Kuwait National Assembly Dr. Abdul Kareem Abdullah Al Kandar. They will also have meetings with the Assistant Minister for European Affairs, and representatives of the Communication and Information Technology Regulatory Authority, Kuwait Investment Authority and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Source: Parliament of Estonia